So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

The weather changed from chilly, wet and cloudy to cold, dry and sunny. I like this so much! Yesterday we bundled up and had a wonderful walk with our friend, her dog and a dog from the shelter. I felt like I was bathed in lots of light.

On Boxing Day last year, another dog was found abandoned in front of the shelter. But this time, thankfully the former owners were caught and will have to pay for it. Sadly, this rarely happens. And of course, this doesn’t help Buddy (this is how the staff named the dog), but maybe his former owner learns from this – that throwing away pets like trash is indeed a crime, and hopefully this will have a lasting impact on their conscience. I hope something good will come from this sad event.

My mother had more dental surgery on Friday, and everything went well. I am grateful for that!

I got a very nasty cold this week, but also lots of support. My husband encouraged me to take it easy, my doctor gave me some pills – so I didn’t have to buy them – and our pets were very patient with me.

On Tuesday was my yearly visit with my OB/Gyn. Everything went well, and I was very relieved to hear that. I will have a mammo/sono later in September, but I will deal with this later.

Wednesday I discussed my latest blood work with my doctor. The results were mixed, my blood sugar is great, but my liver is stressed by either the new pain killer or the new psychotropic drug. But it’s nothing I have to deal with now, it can wait until next month. And I am thankful my blood sugar is ok!

Thursday I went to my dentist, I need a new bite guard. I was coughing a lot, and I just hoped for a break while the impression was made… And I was lucky! Another thing I got out of the way.

I didn’t go to OT on Thursday because I felt bad from my cold. This made me feel like I had somehow failed, but I am glad I was able to take care of myself.

Thursday and Friday I was too tired to walk the dogs. This made me feel bad, but my health needs to come first. Well, I learned this much, I guess. And the dogs are fine.

My husband was given Red Fire shrimps by his brother for the fish tank in our living room. They look so pretty and add even more life. We enjoy sitting and watching, and my husband is by no means finished. It’s so nice to see this former eyesore becoming such a pretty sight.

Unfortunately my husband’s germs found me as well. I really can’t remember when I coughed so much the last time.

When my husband was at work, our pets took good care of me. Sam barked loudly at everyone who came near the house, Janet tried to make me join her on the couch (“Here, pat my tummy! This will make you feel better in no time!”).

But of course Jackie stayed closest to me. Feeling her purring up a storm on my stomach had healing powers. And she is very patient with me, staying for hours by my side. So it’s no surprise I already feel much better!

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

It was our 24th wedding anniversary. I am very thankful that we got this far – through good and bad times. This is not always easy, but both of us agree that a marriage is something worth fighting for.

My husband got a nasty cold with lots of coughing, which made our nights really difficult. I tried to help him through this, and it seems he is finally on the mend – I am grateful for that.

On Saturday, my husband stayed at home while I was walking our dogs together with our friend and her dog. We had a tricky situation when we went down a really busy street. I was pleasantly surprised that our nervous dog Sam stayed near me and didn’t even try to attack other people – the same situation was very difficult in October. Yay, success!
I felt Sam and I really built a connection during those last three months. When we walk the dogs together, I take care of Janet, and my husband has Sam. But the dogs are by now also used to walking just with me on a daily basis. And this finally seems to pay off. I feel very honored that he starts to trust me.

I also was a little proud of myself that I learned to handle those situations on my own now. This is not always the case, Sam’s behavior still is and will be unpredictable, but I don’t feel so overwhelmed by it.

We went to the Vet with Janet for her yearly checkup. She may be ten years old, but she is still in good health. We liked to hear that.

I noticed the days are becoming longer. What a relief. I can deal with cold weather, but the darkness sometimes adds to my depression. But more light is a promise spring will come some day.

Helped my parents with their laptop, which acted really weird… To be honest, I didn’t understand everything and I don’t know Windows 10 as well as Windows 7, but I found a solution for almost everything. I am glad I could help and that everything works now.

Talked to my mother yesterday, and it seems she deals very well with her brother’s death. I was very glad to hear this.

Found a new recipe for delicous wraps we both like. Sometimes it’s good to add something new to the menu.

OT started again, and it was great to meet all the patients and my therapist again. We agreed on a new group project, everybody will make a mosaic on a canvas, and all four parts put together will form a compass rose. I am looking forward to it!

Jackie may be fiercely independent, but she also wants to be near her humans – especially when we settle down at a comfy place, like the bed or the couch.

When I was depressed and stayed in bed for days, she stayed with me and comforted me with her patient purring. Now I stay in the living room with the pack most evenings. And Jackie follows me there as well. When I move too much, she makes sure I stay put – with her claws, if I don’t listen 😀.

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

I am very grateful for the new year. 2018 was very exhausting, even though I learned a lot. Let’s hope 2019 will go easy on me.

It was sad we had to go to my uncle’s funeral on Wednesday, but this brought up so many things to be thankful for as well. First, I felt very honored that I was invited to the funeral, because there had been times when our families completely fell out of touch. Even though these times are over, things had been tricky and I am glad we all were able to put the past aside for now.

I was so thankful to have my father by my side at the funeral. It must have been hard for him to go to another funeral, because he had to say goodbye to three friends in 2018. But we can always count on him. Not only did he help my mother and me through this, he also knew exactly what to say to my aunt and my cousin as well.

I am so grateful for my mother. My brother was her last sibling, but she tried to console my aunt, my cousin and me. She is such a caring person. She thanked my father and me that we were by her side – of course we were.

When we stood at the grave and the coffin was ready to be lowered into the ground, we were asked to say the Lord’s Prayer for my uncle. This was a powerful experience, I felt we all were united by praying together. I am grateful I could be a part of this.

While listening to the funeral speaker, love for my uncle felt my heart, and I recognized I have a choice: Stay resentful and bitter, or forgive those who have hurt me. After all, I never walked in their shoes. So I started with forgiving my uncle, and my heart felt like a huge weight have been lifted. It was the right thing to do, and I am thankful for this experience.

After the funeral, we all were invited to a restaurant where my uncle liked to eat. Two hours later, everybody left feeling happy, even my aunt and my cousin. I know they will grieve for a long time, but for a moment they were comforted by having all of us around them, remembering my uncle.

When I got home after the funeral, I was very thankful that my husband and the pets were alright.

Before I went to the funeral I felt very bad and had panic attacks. I am so glad I went anyway! I felt so much better afterwards.

My husband didn’t work from Christmas to New Year. We enjoyed having time together. The fish tank in the living room is not finished yet, but we put the first fish in it. We like to sit in front of it and just watch, it’s so entertaining.